Are you looking for a fun and easy hiking trail? With summer approaching, Mount Gretna holds a must-see spot, perfect for families and tourists.
The hike holds a number of trails for visitors to experience a personalized trip, specific to them. From Hershey, it is a 22 minute drive (12.6 miles). The park is open from dawn to dusk.
The Governor Dick hiking trail hosts 16.6 miles of trails for visitors to explore, with lots of monuments/resting spots along the way. Some monuments include the Schock Tower House Site, Observation Tower, and the Environmental Center.
For assistance and extra information, guests should visit the Environmental Center prior to their hike. It is open Wednesday to Saturday from 8 AM to 4 PM, and Sunday 12 PM to 4 PM.
The Observation Tower is one of the most popular elements of the trail. The 66-foot-tall tower gives hikers a gorgeous view of Mount Gretna. Visitors climb several ladders to reach the top of the tower, which protects hikers with a metal caging on the upper landing. Several benches line the outside parameters of the tower to take a rest.
Originally, the tower was used by the US Army as a triangulation point in 1822. It offers a view of five Pennsylvania counties- Berks, Dauphin, Lancaster, Lebanon, and York. In 1934, Clarence Schock bought the land. Because of constant vandalism and costs to repair, the five newly constructed towers (four of which were wooden) were closed in 1947.
After your hike, you can experience a refreshing ice cream at the Jigger shop, located two miles away from Governor Dick. Mount Gretna additionally holds a man-made lake to support fun activities, such as kayaking and swimming. Visitors can rent a kayak for $9 for $30, and even purchase a season pass for ages 13-59 for $240. You must purchase a ticket to participate in aquatics.
